Mini Transat - Tales of the sea told time and again

In the Mini Transat, as and when boats arrive, the pontoons at Pointe-à-Pitre are abuzz with activity and tales of the sea told time and again. Meanwhile, the fleet of singlehanders still at sea slims down gradually. For now the movement is still slow, but the pace is expected to accelerate during the weekend.

The next to cross the finish line should be Simon Koster who completes a podium with a dominant Swiss presence. Justine Mettraux arrived this morning at 3:40 local time and will undoubtedly be there to greet the man who made her life difficult for such a good part of the race. Returning navigators sometimes bring us strange surprises, everyone had thought that Justine Mettraux had a genuine problem with her rudder, due to an unintended tripping of her emergency beacon followed by her signal confirming her presence on board. In reality, it was only the fall of a unsecured trash bag which led to the triggering. Having realised the error, Justine was anxious to warn the race management that all was well on board. Of her journey, the young sailor had the impression of a long race, a bit monotonous, with the final pleasing surprise of a second place, of which she had been unaware because of lack of reception on her SSB during the crossing. But she felt that time appeared determined to go slowly over the Atlantic.

After the Genevois it will be the turn of a German-speaking Swiss to dock at the wharf of honor and be welcomed by his peers. Simon Koster (Go 4 It) should cross the line at around 15.00 local time (19.00 GMT). The arrival of Nicolas Boidevezi is not expected until tomorrow at around 06.00 local time Saturday, followed by Louis Segre (Roll my Chicken) and Renaud Mary (www.runo.fr). From Sunday the bulk of the fleet should touch the ground, with no less than fourteen boats expected on the same day. For these competitors it's been a fight close with their opponents across the Atlantic and they must surely have intersected at times, either with eye contact or through VHF conversations, which have not benefited the leaders. It is necessary that a place on the podium has a certain price.